Rotary engine



F. 0, WILSON.

- ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 15. 1911. RENEWED an 9', m9.

Patented June 20, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l- Wit-2255:,

F. D. WILSON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 15. 1911. RENEWED MAY 9, m9.

Patented June 20, 1922.

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F. EL-WILSON; ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION flL-ED NOV. 1,5, 191?- IIENEWEDMAY 9, I919.

1,42%009, v PatentedJune 20, 1 922,.

6 SHEETS-SHEET s.

r. 0. WILSON.

I ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION HLEQ-NOV- I5, 1917- RENEWED IIAY 9, I919.

1,420,009. A PatentdJune20,1922".

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" F. 0. WILSON.

ROTARY ENGINE. I f Arrucmou FILED v.15. mmjnsuzwzn un s. I919;1,420,009.

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- Patented June'20, 1922.

Vi M11255; v

F. D. WILSON.- ROTARYENGINE'. I hrmcn lon min NOV-1,5, m1. KENEWED- mum/9. 1919. 1,420,009.

Patented June 20, 1922, s swim-shin s.

VIZ T152515;

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 31922.

Application filed November 15, 1917, Serial No. 202,181. Renewed May 9,1919. Serial No. 295,973.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Fnnnnmon D. lVILsoN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of RockIsland and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and usefulImprovements in Rotary 'En gines, of which the following is a speci'lication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

lt'fy invention relates to an improvement in rotary reversible, enginesof that class having a plurality of cylinders revolving around anormally stationary, but automatically shiftable crank shaft, andadapted to be driven by steam or other suitable fluid under compression,and has for its objects to improve and simplify the general constructionof such a device, and to provide simple regulating means whereby economyof and the full utilization of the expansion of the actuating motivefluid is effected by regulating the time and period of admission of saidmotive fluid to the various cylinders.

An object of this invention is to so arrange the combination of partsthat the aforementioned regulating means may be operated,

and the engine started, stopped, or reversed by a comparatively smallmovement of one lever. I

A further object is to provide a combination of valves that are easilyadjustable, at will, relative to each other and the cylinder casingwhereby a steam tight joint easily maintained against wear.

Another object is to so mount these valves that they are not subject touneven wear, and with this in view, I have, what I may term, floatingvalves in relation to the cylinder casing and the shaft.

As before mentioned one object of this invention to design an engineeasily controlled and reversed by a comparatively small movement of onelever, and in order to assist in accomplishing this, I have provided ashaft, so mounted, as to automatically shift its position whenthethrottle valve has been circularly adjusted beyond a pre-determinedlimit, which is hereinafter more fully described.

Another improvement very important is the arrangement and location ofthe inlet and exhaust ports in the valve interposed between the throttlevalve and cylinder casing which I term the ring valve, which has adefinite relation to the crank shaft and shifts therewith.

In a rotary reversible engine, utilizing the expansion of the motivefluid, the necessity and economy of keeping the exhaust port covereduntil the piston has nearly reached the extreme of its inward stroke isvery apparent, as also, is the necessity of preventing too much backpressure or compression in the cylinder by the piston, as it completesits stroke, or reaches the outer end of the cylinder, and to accomplishthe former and prevent the latter I have provided the ring valve withone main exhaust port directly opposite the crank in the shaft, which isalways operative, and a series of ports on either side of the mainexhaust port, one series being used for inlet ports while the otherseries are in use as exhaust ports, the function of each series beingreversed by the shifting of the crank shaft since the ring valve shiftssimultaneously. This result is made possible by the design of thethrottle valve, which works in combination, and will be hereinafter morefully described.

Another object in view is to provide means for readily and effectivelystarting such an engine regardless of the position of the cylindersaround the center of rotation, which accomplished by manually adjustingthe throttle valve, around the center of rotation, until its inductionport coincides with the steam passage leading to the nearest cyl'in der.

Another improvement of importance to which I wish to call particularattention is the means, permitting oscillation, of supplying the motivetluid to the oscillatory throttle valve from the stationary supply pipelocated in a line with the center of the crank shaft, (the threadspermitting the casting to oscillate simultaneous with the throttlevalve), but I dont wish to be limited to the use of a thread' Anotherimprovement, worthy of mention, is the means for permitting theautomatic shifting of the crank shaft, said means, at the same time,preventing the vibration or the rebounding tendency caused by the actionof the pistons.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood I will refer tothe accompanying drawing in which like numerals of reference indicatethe same parts throughout the several figures.

Figure 1, is a side elevation of a rotary engine embodying theinvention.

Figure 2, is an end elevation of the rotary casing, the interior partsbeing shown in dotted lines and the shaft being shown in section.

Figure 3, is an elevation of the opposite end of the casing, partly insection, showing the means for limiting the oscillatory movement of theshaft and crank and for frictionally retarding the shifting movement ofthe same.

Figure 4. is a plan view of the casing, in

section, on a line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 5, is a plan view of the ring valve in position relative to thethrottle valve, the inlet and exhaust steam passages being shown indotted lines. Also means for connecting the ring valve with the crankshaft.

Figure 6, is a transverse vertical sectional view of the throttle valveand its surrounding ring valve on line (36 of Figure 5, showing allports closed except the main exhaust port, with the crank in position todrive the casing anti-clockwise.

Figure '7 is a sectional view on the same line and of the same parts, asFigure 6, showing the throttle valve adjusted to admit a small amount ofsteam through the second anti-clockwise admission port in the ringvalve. The location of the crank being the same as Figure 6.

Figure 8, is a sectional view on the same line and of the same parts asFigure 6, showing the throttle valve adjusted to admit the maximumamount of steam through the largest anti-clockwise port in the ringvalve. The location of the crank being the same as Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a sectional. view on the same line and of the same parts asFigure 6, showing the crank and ring valve shifted to drive the casingclockwise and the throttle valve adjusted to admit av small amount ofsteam through the second clockwise admission port in the ring valve, thelargest anti-clockwise port now being used as an auxiliary exhaust port.

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the same line and of the same parts asFigure 6, showing the crank and ring valve in the same position asFigure 9, with the throttle valve adjusted to admit the maximum amountof steam through the largest clockwise port in the ring valve, whichportis shown in both Figures 7 and 8, as being used as an auxiliary exhaustport, the casing rotating in the reverse direction.

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the shaft, showing the position of thefrictional retarding means, relative to the valves, with crank inposition to drive the casing clockwise.

Figure 12 is an end elevation showing the relative position of the sameparts as Figure 11, with shaft in position to drive the easinganti-clockwise.

Figure 13, is a plan view of the ring valve showing the adjustableexpanding means.

Figure 1 1 is a sectional view of Figure 13, on line 14-14;.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of a portion of the throttle valve showingthe adjustable expanding means.

Figure 16 is aplan view of Figure 15.

Referring to Figure 1, 1 indicates a base, having suit-able standards 2and 3 secured thereto, to form a supporting frame for the engine, thesestandards carrying, at their upper ends, bearings in which is shiftablymounted the otherwise fixed shaft 1. The casing is provided with anumber of radially extending cylinders 5, and in the illustration thereare shown six of these cylinders, but the number of such cylinders is amatter of convenience within suitable limits. The casing is convenientlya metal one, and the cylinder is closed at its outer end by asteam-tight screw plug 6.

At one side of the casing, at the left in Figure 1, the casing hasbolted thereto at 7, a plate 8, which is formed with a tubular portion9, in Figure l, concentric with the shaft 4t, said tubular portionhaving secured thereto a pinion 10, which meshes with the gear 11,secured to a shaft 55, said shaft having a bearing in an extendedportion of the standard 3, and is used for the transmis sion of power.At the other side of the casing is arranged a throttle valve 12, whichfits within this side of the casing by means of an interposed ring valve13, both being concentric with the casing and the shaft. The casing onthis side is formed with an extended concentric tubular part 14 which ismounted on the shaft by means of a bush ing 15, and is not in contactwith the inner surface of'the throttle *alve, thus leaving the valvesfree to adjust themselves to the finished portion of the casing, withwhich they contact, always maintainlng a steam tight joint betweensurfaces 16 and 17, as shown in Figure l, irrespective of any slighteccentricity of said tubular portion. It will be understood that thering valve contacts vith the casing at 16 and 18, and throttle valvecontacts with the casing at 19, and with the ring valve at 17. At eachend of the bushing 15 are preferably arranged removable liner and thrustplates 20, for preventing excessive endwise wear of the parts.

The throttle valve 12, is circularly adjustable relative to casing andring valve by means of a handle 21 which is fixed in a socket 22 of saidvalve and by which the valve may be thrown around the center of rotationor stopped at any point within a predetermined limit, which is, in thecase of a six cylinder engine, slightly more than 60 degrees.

The shifting movement of the shaft and crank is limited by stops 23, thesame being fixed parts of the engine frame and being adapted to arrestthe movable part 24, which is fixed on the shaft 4. Secured to theshaft, and preferably cast with 24, is an arm having a concentricsurface contacting with a brake shoe 26 which is pressed toward thecenter of rotation by the spring 2?. The crank shifts its position underpressure of the piston connections when the engine is reversed, saidshifting movement being frictionally retarded and vibration prevented bythe action of the brake shoe on the concentric surface of 25. The ringvalve 13, has a definite relation to, and shifts with, the crank shaftin reversing, by means of a collar 28, secured to the shaft by pin 29,said collar having an arm or arms, the outer end of which have teethengaging notches .in the extended edge of the ring valve as shown inFigure 5.

30 indicates a steam pipe one end of which is screwed into the throttlevalve 12 communicating with a steam passage 31 therein, the other end ofwhich is secured to a casting 32 having a steam passage terminating inaxial line with the shaft 4. 34 indicates a steam pipe screwed into thethrottle valve on the opposite side of shaft 4 communicating with theexhaust steam passage 35, said pipe being shown supported at 1ts outerend by an arm 36 which is a part of 32. 37 indicates a. hose, and 38 acouplingfor same attached to the outer end of'34, showing means ofdisposing of the exhaust steam.

The casting 32 is loosely mounted on the shaft 4 and contains a steampassage 33 terminating in axial line with the center of said shaft, andinto passage 33 is screwed a supply pipe 39 the arrangement being suchthat when the throttle valve is adjusted as above mentioned it willcarry with it, by means of the pipes 30 and 34, the casting 32 and thelatter will turn on the supply pipe 39. I have shown, in theaccompanying drawings, the pipes 30 and 34, as a means of connectingcasting 32 with the throttle alve but as future developments may provethe advisability of having 32 cast with the throttle valve 12, and theconnecting arms serving the same purpose as 30 and 34, thus making 32merely an extended portion of the throttle valve, I wish it understoodthat I have such a possibility in mind and dont wish to be held to theexact construction shown.

Each of the cylinders '6 is fitted "with a piston 40 on which thevarious cylinders move radiallyin the course of their rotation about theshaft 4, which is provided with an eccentric crank or wrlst 41 arrangedwithin the casing and each piston is pivoted thereto by a pin 42 andconnecting rod 43.

The inner end of the connecting rod is pro vided with a longitudinal.portion 44 parallel with the crank and whichiits and is retained thereonin any one of several well known ways.

45 is an exhaust groove formed in the throttle valve extending for abouta semithrough the throw of the crank, each port of each series being ofa different size, the first, or one nearest line C-C, being the smallestand the last or farthest one being the longest, therefore varying theperiod of admission according to the circular adjustment of throttleport 31. It will be noted that al.-

though these ports are primarily admission ports the location of a partof them issuch that they are used for auxiliary exhaust ports, when theopposite series are in use as admission ports, this being accomplishedby the groove in the-throttle valve. At the op posite sideof the shafton line CC the ring valve is formed with a large exhaust port which isalways in communication with, the groove in the throttle valve. Theexhaust steam is conducted away from the exhaust groove 45 by means ofan exhaust pipe-34, which is screwed into and movable with the throttlevalve, the outer end being supported by arm 36 of casting 32 and towhich is attached a flexible exhaust hose 37 by means of coupling 38.

It will be understood that the shaft 4 and crank 41 is held from rotarymotion by the contacting of 24 with either of the stops 23, accordingtothe direction of rotation of the casing, so that the crank forms a.solid abutment against which the pistons and their connectingrods maywork for the propulsion of the casing, 28 and arms 47 engaging notches48, in the edge of the ring valve, the ring valve is similarly held fromrotation. lhe casing therefore rotates around the ring valve and'has notendency to turn the throttle valve 12 away from its adjusted position.The handle 2]. 111ty, hOW8V6l, be secured in any desired position by anywell known means suitable for the purpose. In the operation oftheengine,-the steam, which is supposedto be at a very high pressure,passes through the inlet passages 39, 33, 30, 31 and to the ring valve13, and the throttle valve being inthe proper position for thepurpose,'the steamthence passes through one of'the port and by means ofcollar Cit 46 and enters the casing passage 49 leading to the cylinderspace at the outer side oi the corresponding piston. lVhen enough steamhas entered the cylinder, the cylinder and easing are pressed outwardrelativeto the piston, the piston and its connecting rod being heldstationary by the crank 41, and the result is that the cylinder movesaway with a rotary motion, relative to the eccentric crank, and aboutthe bearings which the casing has upon the shatt 4. lVhcn the :as ingthus begins to rotate the communication of the passage 49, with the ringvalve port 46, is closed and no more steam enters, in which case thesteam already within the cylinder there expands and continues to rotatethe casing until the passage 49 of the next cylinder, each of saidcylinders having such a passage so arranged as to pass over port 46, isin a position to take steam from ring valve port 46, when the sameaction takes place, assisting the first cylinder until a third has takensteam in the same manner.

There will then be three cylinders and pis tons in operation, the first,the passage 49 of which has nearly reached the main exha ust port ot'the ring valve 13, and is now carrying comparatively low pressure steam,the second, which is carrying steam in a. slightly expanded state; andthe third which has steam at high or boiler pressure. Continued rotationof the casing brings the passages 49 and cylinders successively intocommunication with the exhaust port 50 whereupon the steam, now at verylow pressure, passes through the exhaust port into the exhaust groove45, of the throttle valve 12 and thence to the exhaust pipe 84, and hose37. As the continued rotation of the casing causes the exhaust port 50to suddenly close in the same manner as the inlet port, and as theclearance is slight between the pistons and the. end of the cylinder itis shown in Figures 6, 7, S, 9, and 10, how one or more o'l ports 46 areused as; auxiliary exhaust ports to allow the remaining steam to escapeinto the exhaust groove 45, and thence to the exhaust pipe 34, thuspreventing high compression as the piston approaches the outer end ol?the cylinder, This relieves each cylinder of all but a minimum amount oisteam and it is now r ady for the reception of high pressure steam whenits passage 49 returns to the active inlet port 46 of the ring valve.

By a suitable adjustment of the throttle valve. the passage therein 31,may be brought nearer to, as in Figures 8 and 10, or further from. as inFigures 7 and 9, the exhaust port 5Ov thus changing the time of steamadmission relative to the rotation of the cylinders, and as the lengthof ports 46 vary with the location, thus changing the period ofcommunication, it will be readily understood how each cylinder may becaused to work for a shorter time with relatively high pressure steam,or may be caused to work for a longer time under expanding steam, thusgreatly varying the speed and power of the engine with economy of steam.

At whatever point the casing may have stopped, and it being desired tostart the engine, the throttle valve may be adjusted so that passage 31communicates with any port 46 suitable for such starting, and, afterstarting, the throttle valve may be turned backward to cause the engineto run very largely on steam expansion, or by advancing the throttlevalve, so as to use a more advanced port 46 for the admission of steam,Figures 8 and 10, the power developed may be greatly increased for heavyloads; To

reverse the engine the same handle 21 is used, the throttle valve beingproperly positioned for the purpose.

For purposes of illustration, suppose the engine is running clockwise,the position of the crank and shifting means, relative to the throttlevalve, is clearly shown in l igure 11. Assuming it is desired to reversethe engine, the handle 21 is moved anti-clockwise until the steam isshut Off and all ports closed except the main exhaust port 50, in Figure6, Continued movement ot the handle, (and throttle valve) opens thefirst anticlockwise admission port and simultaneously opens theauxiliary exhaust port as shown in F ignre 7. It will be readily seenthat it steam is admitted through any of the anticlockwise admissionports 46 while the crank is set as shown in Figure 11, the action of thepiston connections against thecrank 41 will automatically shift thecrank and shaft under its frictional retardment and the position theparts now assume is shown in Figure 12, it being understood that theshifting movement of the crank is limited by the contact of 24, withstop 23, as is also shown in Figure 1.2, the function of the springpressed brake shoe 26 acting against the surface 01": the arm 25 is tonot only reduce the shock when 24 contacts with stop 23, in reversing,but also to prevent the vibration ol the sha'lt set up by thcintermittent thrust of the piston connections upon the crank.

In order to guard against leakage and provide for adjustment when weardevelops, the ring valve is made up of two parts, one of which 51 ofFigure 13, is wedge shaped,

and may be caused to move sidewise so as to' increase its diametermaking a more perfect and even contact between its outside circumferenceand the surface 16 of the casing, thus making a steam tight oint,especially around the admission ports 46. of the piece 51 may beeffected by bolts 52 mounted in a bracket 53 attached to the ring valveand screwed into the piece 51. In the construction illustrated theexhaust port 50, is formed in the said piece 51.

Such adjustment ward causes the expansion of said valve making a steamtight joint between it and the ring valve, and especially around theadmission ports 46.

It is hardly necessary to say that the entrances of the passages 49 arewide enough, relative to the ports 46, so that in any position of thecasing the passage 49 of some cylinder will be in communication (throughthe ring valve) with the port of the throttle valve when the latter isproperly adjusted for the starting of the engine.

Fully realizing the importance and necessity of eflicient and positiveoiling, in assisting to form a steam tight joint, as well as reducingfriction and adding to the life of such a device, 1 have provided oilholes 56, as shown'in Figure 4:. at suitable intervals around thevalves, the location being such that when a quantity of oil is placedwithin the casing, forthe lubrication of the crank bearings and pistons,the lubricant is forced by centrifugal action through these holes to thevalve surfaces.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a rotaryengine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mounted to rock inbearings on the frame and normally held stationary while the engine isrotating in one direction, a revoluble casing mounted on the crankshaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in thecylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a ringvalve, a manually controlled throttle valve, and means to automaticallyshift the crank shaft between fixed points when the throttle valve isoperated.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mountedto rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while theengine is rotating, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank-shaft, aseries of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in the cylinders andactuated by revolving around the crankshaft, a ring valve, and amanually controlled throttle valve which when adjusted beyond apredetermined limit causes the crank-shaft to shift between fixedpoints.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mountedto rock in bearings on the frame and held stationary while the engine isrotating, a revoluble casing mounted on the crank-shaft, a series ofcylinders secured on the casing, pistons'in the cylinders and actuatedby revolving around the crank-shaft, a ring valve provided with a seriesof separate ports adapted for use as either inlet or exhaust portsaccording to the direction of rotation of the engine and a manuallycontrolled throttle valve, which, when adjusted beyond apredeterminedlimit causes the crank-shaft toshift in its bearings.

1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank-shaft mountedto rock in hearings on the frame and held stationary while the engine isrotating, a revoluble 'casing mounted on the'crank-shaft, a series ofcylinders secured to said casing, pistons in the cylinders actuated byrevolving around the crank-shaft, a ring valve connected to shift withthe crank-shaft, and a manually controlled throttle valve, which, whenadjusted beyond a predetermined limit causes the crank-shaft to shift inits bearings and the ring valve to move therewith.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank-shaft mountedto rock in bearings 0n the frame, and held stationary while the engineis rotating, a revoluble ca ing mounted on the crank-shaft, a series ofcylinders secured to said casing, pistons in the cylinders and actuatedby revolving around the crank-shaft, a ring valve, a manually controlledthrottlev-alve, and means to shift the crank between fixed points whenthe engine is reversed, and means for frictionally retarding theshifting action.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaftmountedto rock in bearings on the frame and normally held againstrotation while the engine is rotating in one direction, a revolublecasing mounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on thecasing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around thecrank shaft, a manually controlled throttle valve within the casing, aring valve interposed between the throttle valve and casing and providedwith an exhaust port and with a series of separate steam admission portswith any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought intocommunication for the admission of steam to the casing.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mountedto rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while theengine is rotating in one direction, a revoluble casing mounted on thecrank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons in thecylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a. manuallycontrolled throttle valve within the casing, a ring valve interposedbetween. the throttle valve and casing and provided with an exhaust portand with a series of separate steam admission ports with any one ofwhich the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication forthe admission of steam to the casing, and adjustable means for expandingthe ring valve relative to the casing.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mountedto rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while theengine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted onthe crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistons onthe cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank-shaft, amanually controlled throttlevalve within the casing, a ring valveinterposed between the throttle valve and casing and provided with anexhaust port and series of separate steam admission ports with any oneof which the throttle valve is adapted to be brought into Communicationfor the admission of steam to the casing, and means for shiftingthethrottle valve relative to the ring valve to reverse the engine.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mountedto rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationary while theengine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted onthe crank-shaft, a series of cylinders sccured on the casing, pistons inthe cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, amanually controlled throttle valve within the casing provided with inletand exhaust ports, and a non-rotating ring valve interposed between thethrottle valve and casing and provided with a series of separate steamadmission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted tobe brought into communication for the admission of steam to the casing.

10. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank-shaftmounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationarywhile the engine is rotating in either direction, a revolnble casingmounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing,pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crankshaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet andexhaust ports, and a divided nonrotating ring valve interposed betweenthe throttle valve and casing and provided with a series of separatesteam admission ports with. any one of which the throttle valve adaptedto be brought into communication for the admission of steam to thecusmg.

11.. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaftmounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationarywhile the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casingmounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured in the casing,pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crankshaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet andexhaust ports, and a two part ring valve interposed between the throttlevalve and the casing, one part of said ring valve having a series ofseparate steam admission ports with any one of which the inlet port ofthe throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication for theadmission of steam to the casing, the second part of said ring valvehaving an exhaust port with which the exhaust port of the throttle valveis in communication.

12. I11 a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaftmounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationarywhile the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casingmounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders seemed on the casing,pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crankshaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet andexhaust ports, a two part ring valve interposed between the throttlevalve and the casing, one port having a series of separate ports adaptedto operate as inlet ports when the engine is rotating in one directionand to operate as exhaust ports when the engineis rotating in theopposite direction, said ring valve, and throttle valve cooperating inthe admission or exhaust of steam in operating the engine.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaftmounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationarywhile the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casingmounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casingpistons in the'cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crankshaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet andexhaust ports, a nonrotating two part ring valve interposed between thethrottle valve and the casing, one part having a series of separateports adapted to operate as inlet ports when the engine is rotating inone direction and to operate asexhaust ports when the engine is rotatingin the opposite direction, said ring valve and throttle valvecooperating in the admission or exhaust of steam in operating theengine.

1 L. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaftmounted to rock in bearin gs on the frame and normally held stationarywhile the engine is rotating in either direction, means to automaticallyshift said shaft when the engine is reversed, a crank shaft, a series ofcylinders secured on the cars ing, pistons in the cylinders and actuatedby revolving around the crank shaft, a manually controlled throttlevalve provided with inlet and exhaust ports, and a non-rotating ringvalve interposedbetween the throttle valve and the casing and providedwith a se ries of separate steam admission ports with any one of whichthe throttle valve is adapted to be brought into communication for theadmission of steam to the casing.

15. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank-shaftmounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationarywhile the engine is rotating in either direction, means to automaticallyshift said shaft when the engine is reversed, a revoluble casing mountedon the crank shaft, series of cylinders secured on the casing, pistonsin the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, amanually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet and exhaustports, a nonrotating ring valve interposed between the throttle valveand the casing and provided with a series of separate steam ad- 7mission ports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to bebrought into conmiunication for the admission of steam to the casing,and a groove in the peripheral face of the throttle valve.

16. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank-shaftmounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationarywhile the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casingmounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing,pistons in the cylinders and aetuated hy revolving around the crankshaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with inlet andexhaust ports, a non-rotating ring valve interposed between the throttlevalve and the casing and provided with a series of separate admissionports with any one of which the throttle valve is adapted to be broughtinto communication for the admission of steam to the easing, and agroove in the peripheral face of the throttle valve.

17. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaftmounted to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationarywhile the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casingmounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing,pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crankshaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with an inlet portand an exhaust port, a non-rotatin g ring valve interposed between thethrottle valve and the casing and provided with a series of separatesteam admission ports with any one of which the throttle valve isadapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam tothe casing, and a groove in the peripheral face of the throttle valveextending in opposite directions from the exhaust port therein.

18. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaftmounted. to rock in hearings on the frame and normally held stationarywhile the engine is rotating in either direction, a revoluhle casingmounted on the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on the casing,pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crankshaft, a manually controlled throttle valve provided with an inlet portand an exhaust port, a non-rotating ring valve interposed between thethrottle vvalve and the casingand provided with a series of separatesteam admission ports with any one of which the throttle valve isadapted to be brought into communication for the admission of steam tothe casing, and a groove in the peripheral face of the throttle valveand extending for a limited distance in opposite directions from theexhaust port therein.v

19. In a rotary engine the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mountedto rock in bearings on the frame and normally held stationary while theengine is rotating in either direction, a revoluble casing mounted torevolve around the crank shaft, a series of cylinders secured on thecasing, pistons in the cylinders and actuated by revolving around thecrank shaft, a ring valve, a manually controlled throttle valve, andmeans to automatically shift the crank shaft between fixed points whenthe throttle valve is adjusted beyond a predetermined limit.

20. In a rotary engine the combination of a frame, a. shiftable crankshaft mounted to rock in bearing on the frame, and held stationary whilethe engine in rotating, a revoluble casing mounted to revolve around thecrank shaft, a series of cylinders secured to said casing 7lSl3011S inthe cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, afloating, non-rotating ring valve, a throttle valve and means formanually shifting the throttle valve to control the admission of steamto the cylinders.

21. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaftmounted to rock in hearings on the frame and held stationary while theengine is rotating, a revoluble casing mounted to revolve around thecrank shaft, a series of cylinders secured to the easing, pistons in thecylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a ring valveprovided with ports, a manually controlled throttle valve having agroove in its peripheral face, said groove co-operating with the ringvalve ports in controlling the engine.

22. In a rotary engine the combination of a frame, a crank shaft mountedto rock in bearings on the frame and. held stationary except when theengine is reversed, a revoluble easing mounted to revolve around thecrank shaft, a series of cylinders secured to said casing, pistons inthe cylinders and actuated by revolving around the crank shaft, a ringvalve, a manually operated throttle valve, which, when adjusted beyond apredetermined limit in one direction causes the crank shaft toautomatically shift its position in the opposite direction.

23. In a rotary engine, the combination of a frame, a crank shaftmounted to rock in bearings on the frame and normally held stationarywhile the engine is rotating in either direction, means to automaticallyshift with the crank shaft, encl means whereby sand passages mayOSGlllfitG wlth respect to the feed plpe slmultaneous \vlt-h thethrottle 10 valve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERICK D. WILSON.

